Valerie Harper, R.I.P.

Actress Valerie Harper has passed away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 80.

A dancer by training, Harper gained renown for her portrayal of Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and later on her own spinoff Rhoda. Rhoda Morgenstern was the perfect counterpart to Tyler Moore's Mary Richards. She won four Emmys for her work as Rhoda Morgenstern (three on MTM and one on Rhoda).

Harper would never replicate her Mary Tyler Moore/Rhoda success. During the late 1980's, she starred in NBC's Valerie. Although critically acclaimed, differences with the production company and network would ultimately result in her dismissal from the series and would be replaced by Sandy Duncan and the series would be retooled as The Hogan Family. Although Harper and her husband would collect damages as a result of a lawsuit, Harper would never again be cast in a TV series.

Much of Harper's later career would be focused on stage most notably for her portrayal of Tallulah Bankhead in Looped for which she received a Tony nomination. Harper spent most of the 2010's battling cancer, but did recover sufficiently to return to her roots as a dancer appearing as a contestant on ABC's Dancing With The Stars in 2013. That same year Harper would reunite with MTM co-stars Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Cloris Leachman and Georgia Engel in an episode of Hot in Cleveland. Six year later, only White and Leachman are still with us. A sobering thought. R.I.P.

Mattis Subtlety Suggests We Send Trump Home

I read former Defense Secretary James Mattis' op-ed in The Wall Street Journal and was struck about his restraint. This quality should be unsurprising in a military man where discipline is the order of the day. Yet given the manner in which President Trump publicly boasted at a Cabinet Meeting on January 2, 2019 that he had "essentially" fired Mattis following his resignation, one must appreciate the quality and subtlety of his rebuke:


When I served as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, a new post created in 2002 to help streamline and reform NATO’s command structure, I served with a brilliant admiral from a European nation. He looked and acted every inch the forceful leader. Too forceful: He yelled, dressing officers down in front of others, and publicly mocked reports that he considered shallow instead of clarifying what he wanted. He was harsh and inconsiderate, and his subordinates were fearful.


I called in the admiral and carefully explained why I disapproved of his leadership. “Your staff resents you,” I said. “You’re disappointed in their input. OK. But your criticism makes that input worse, not better. You’re going the wrong way. You cannot allow your passion for excellence to destroy your compassion for them as human beings.” This was a point I had always driven home to my subordinates.


“Change your leadership style,” I continued. “Coach and encourage; don’t berate, least of all in public.”


But he soon reverted to demeaning his subordinates. I shouldn’t have been surprised. When for decades you have been rewarded and promoted, it’s difficult to break the habits you’ve acquired, regardless of how they may have worked in another setting. Finally, I told him to go home.


Mattis might have been specifically writing about a European admiral, but he was really talking about an American President. How often has Trump dressed down his subordinates in front of others? How often has Trump publicly mocked reports critical of him as "fake news"? Can there be two more fitting words to describe Trump than harsh and inconsiderate?


There can be no doubt that General Mattis is telling Americans to send President Trump home. Will we follow his advice?

#MelaniaLovesTrudeau; But What About Canadian Voters?

For the past day or so, #MelaniaLovesTrudeau has been trending on Twitter based on this photo taken during the G-7 in France.

Given her choice of men, the First Lady does look rather interested in Trudeau the younger and he isn't doing anything to discourage her flirtations. However, Trudeau ought to spend his time wooing Canadians rather than Mrs. Trump because in two months from now she might have to gaze into the eyes of Andrew Scheer. Most recent polls have Scheer's Conservative Party leading (albeit within the margin of error). Nevertheless, with the SNC-Lavalin scandal not going away, Trudeau has his work cut out for him. At the moment, a majority of Canadian voters are not looking at Trudeau the way Melania Trump does.

Joe Walsh Walks The Walk

Ten days ago, I asked whether former Congressman and conservative talk radio host Joe Walsh would walk the walk instead of talk the talk and challenge President Trump in the Republican primaries.

Well, today we have our answer.

Bravo!!! Three cheers!!!

Of course, he will be even more despised by Trump supporters while many on The Left views him as no different than Trump. The former is understandable, the latter is not. If you're a Democrat or a socialist, you don't have to like Walsh. But they must understand that Walsh's presence in the Republican primary will harm Trump. Even if Walsh doesn't defeat Trump, he can harm him enough to lose the general election. The Left would be wise to sit back and enjoy the fight and worry about the quality of their own candidates.

Should Walsh (who follows me on Twitter) still be on the ballot by the time of the New York Primary (whenever that might be scheduled) then I shall cast a ballot for him.

Moulton: Trump Will Be Harder to Beat Than Most People Think

Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton announced his departure from the 2020 Democratic presidential race with a warning for his party, “I’ve always said that veering too far left could result in us losing this election, and that Trump will be harder to beat than most people think.”


I'm sure Moulton's advice will get about as much attention as his presidential campaign, but Democrats ought to listen.


For all of Trump's lunacy regarding his diplomatic spat with Denmark over Greenland, proclaiming himself as "the Chosen One" and telling American born Congresswomen to go back from where they came, there are still people who will vote for him whether they admit it or not. Trump still has plenty of supporters who will run through a wall for him and then rebuild and pay for it. There are still many Democrats who think they have the White House sown up. Evidently the lessons of 2016 haven't sunken in. Voters are bound to be leery of Medicare For All after the Obamacare debacle not to mention the Green New Deal, student loan forgiveness and the possibility of reparations. How much will all this cost the taxpayer? Trump will continue to say and do stupid things. But people have short memories and slimmer pocketbooks.


Of course, a lot of it depends on who Democrats nominate. For his part, Moulton believes the race is down to Biden, Bernie and Warren. Moulton all but endorsed Biden, but didn't come out and say it because there's no guarantee he'll survive a primary on Massachusetts' North Shore. Biden is gaffe prone and has done some no-no activity like plagiarism, but voters don't view him as malicious in the way Trump is. Bernie is ornery and not in a Larry David kind of way. Warren is book smart, but not street smart and her ongoing problems with claiming Native ancestry will give voters reason to perceive her as a phony.


If Moulton is right and it is down to the three of them then Biden is the most viable candidate against Trump. But at this point I wouldn't count out Buttigieg, Castro, Booker or even Kamala Harris out of the race just quite yet. Nor for that matter would I count out President Trump however foolish his conduct has been and will continue to be.

The David Koch Death Hatefest Has Begun

A colleague approached me this morning and informed me he probably shouldn't say it but that he was glad that David Koch had died. I hadn't heard the news, but I told him very firmly that I did not wish death upon anyone. When my colleague called Koch a climate denialist, I reminded him that he also used his money for the arts, education, cancer research and prison reform. He ceded the point.


Under the circumstances, my colleague was probably more generous than most who dwell in the Twitterverse. Here is but a sample of the "mourning" Koch has received:


John Lurie: "It is rare to see uniformed joy and agreement on social media but David Koch's death has brought us all together in abundant delight!"


Jordan Weissmann: "David Koch was a villain who devoted his wealth to further enriching himself and his fellow plutocrats, while spinning us all toward environmental doom. I don’t believe in an afterlife, but if there is one, I hope his soul suffers for eternity."


Will Bunch: "I'm sure David Koch loved his grandkids or whatever, but the reality is that he and his greedy generation in Big Business and politics set the world on fire from Alaska to the Amazon, and now they won't be around to watch the flames consume the rest of us."


Oliver Willis: "When a bad person dies they don't suddenly become a saint. Their legacy of destruction and pain doesn't just float away. David Koch is dead, we have to deal with the fallout of his villainy for hundreds of years. So he donated to a museum. So fucking what?"


George Takei: "You have have all that money, but it cannot change the ending. Do good in the world with your time here on it. That is all I will say."


Since when is funding cancer research a bad thing?


Disagree with the political causes that Koch supported all you want, but if holding a view contrary to your own warrants being delighted at his death and hoping his soul suffers for eternity it doesn't say very much for left-wing thinking. Who the hell is Oliver Willis to cast judgment as to whom is and isn't a bad person. There is a G-d and Willis is not him.


Of course, Trump supporters are no better. I'm sure we would hear equally nasty sentiments from their corner of the Twitterverse if a noted Koch critic like Bernie Sanders were to suddenly pass away. The intolerance and lack of respect towards others for having a different point of view to the point of spitting on a body before they've been lowered in their final resting place speaks to a deep sickness in this country from which I'm not sure we can recover.


With that R.I.P. David Koch.

Danish PM Frederiksen Is An Odd Choice of Enemy for Trump

As far as President Trump's enemies go, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen might be the oddest choice of all.


Trump's decision to cancel his scheduled visit to Denmark next month because she is not interested "in discussing the purchase of Greenland" is pique Trump as is his characterization of Frederiksen as "nasty".


David Frum has speculated that the real motivation for Trump cancelling his event is the impending visit of former President Obama later in the month. A visit which would likely draw bigger crowds and be more warmly received.


While this is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility, it is nevertheless curious given Frederiksen's rise to power in last May's elections. Although a Social Democrat, Frederiksen campaigned on a decidedly anti-immigration platform which included calling for a cap on “non-western immigrants”, the resettlement of all asylum seekers to North Africa and for all immigrants to be forced to work 37 hours a week in exchange for benefits. Last year, Frederiksen called Islam a barrier to integration. With positions like these one would have thought Trump would have sought out Frederiksen as an ally on the question of immigration.


Instead, Trump has given Frederiksen the sort of treatment he reserves for anyone not named Vladimir Putin or Kim Jong-un and has turned Frederiksen into an international sympathetic figure. I do wonder how quick The Left will distance themselves from Frederiksen once they discover what she actually believes.


Still, it is bizarre that Trump would entertain the idea of buying Greenland much less cancel a meeting with its Prime Minister over it. It could be worse though. As Ted Cruz said in February 2016, “I mean, we’re liable to wake up one morning and Donald, if he were president, would have nuked Denmark." Well, Trump has gone all nuclear on Denmark where it concerns Twitterverse.


Whatever Trump's motivations, none of this is inspiring confidence. The 25th Amendment has been floated from time to time and will undoubtedly be floated again, but it isn't really feasible. November 2020 cannot come soon enough. Although by then it could be too late. In which case, there's something rotten in America. Sadly, it is fitting that this act of this tragedy is taking place in Denmark.

Trump Takes a Page From Omar & Tlaib's Book & Questions The Loyalty of American Jews

Leave it to President Trump to pour gasoline on a fire.


During an Oval Office meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Trump weighed in on the activities of anti-Semitic Democratic Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. Trump stated, "I think Jewish people that vote for a Democrat — I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty."


Trump was fine until he said "or great disloyalty." I do think there are many young Jews who are ill-served and misinformed about the history of the Middle East and the struggle to bring about Israel. Some of these Jews join organizations like If Not Now or Jewish Voice for Peace.


But when Trump speaks of disloyalty then he is no better than either Omar or Tlaib who have both questioned the loyalty of American Jews. In Trump's case, I believe he is questioning the loyalty of American Jews to him rather than to the country per se. Indeed, Trump expects a great deal of loyalty and is not pleased at anything less than fastidious fealty. Just ask James Comey. His casual claims of treason against the FBI, Google, The New York Times and the Mueller investigation.


Now one might argue that Trump means Jews aren't loyal to their fellow Jews. If that is the case then it is not for him to make that determination since he is not a Jew even if his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren are.


If Trump's objective is to make the case that Omar and Tlaib are anti-Semitic then he will not succeed so long as he accuses American Jews of any kind of disloyalty.

What Were Those "Mistakes" in Warren's Mealy-Mouthed "Apology" to Native Americans?

During a forum on Native American issues in Sioux City, Iowa, Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren "apologized" for "mistakes" with respect to claims of American Indian identity:


Like anyone who’s being honest with themselves, I know that I have made mistakes. I am sorry for harm I have caused. I have listened and I have learned a lot, and I am grateful for the many conversations that we’ve had together.


As you can see, Warren did not specify her mistakes for which she was apologizing. She did previously apologize for last fall's DNA test debacle and for identifying herself as an American Indian on her Texas bar registration card prior to launching her presidential campaign in February. If one is of generous disposition Warren might be referring to those previous apologies. But there's more.


Does her apology also extend to identifying herself as Native American because her maternal grandfather "had high cheekbones like all the Indians do,"? Does her apology extend to identifying herself as Native American so she could obtain employment at Ivy League schools? Is she apologizing for her opportunism? Is she apologizing for lying?


Warren's "apology" raises more questions than answers. As such I believe this will continue to be Warren's kryptonite. Should she share a debate stage with Tulsi Gabbard I suspect will Gabbard confront her on this issue? If she does will Warren be any more prepared with her than she was with the Breakfast Club back in May when Charlamagne tha God likened her to Rachel Dolezal? If she isn't then her numbers could fall like they have with Kamala Harris after Gabbard confronted her with record as California Attorney General.


Of course, a great deal of this is up to Native Americans themselves. If the Native American community at large is inclined towards forgiveness then further scrutiny probably won't damage Warren barring new information. But if Native Americans believe Warren is speaking with a forked tongue then all the apologies in the world won't save her.

Peter Fonda Knows What It's Like To Be Dead

Actor Peter Fonda has passed away of respjratory failure as a result of cancer. He was 79.

The son of Henry Fonda & younger brother of Jane Fonda, he began acting in films, TV and on Broadway in the early 1960's. The younger Fonda would carve out his own identity as a counterculture icon by starring and co-writing Easy Rider along with Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson. Although Fonda worked steadily he was unable to replicate the level of success for nearly 30 years until earning a Best Actor nomination for the 1997 film Ulee's Gold.

Fonda continued to work into the 2000s and 2010s with notable roles in the remake of 3:10 to Yuma and Ghost Rider. Like his older sister, Fonda was active in left-wing causes. His politics might very well have been even more radical than hers. Fonda considered President Obama "a fucking traitor" concerning the 2011 Deep Water Horizon spill in the Gulf Coast. Last year, Fonda made headlines when he wrote a series of incendiary tweets about President Trump's family particularly his youngest son Barron. Fonda was enraged at the Trump Administration's family separation policy at the border. His comments prompted a Secret Service investigation.

Fonda served as the inspiration for The Beatles' "She Said She Said". While tripping on LSD, Fonda recounted accidentally shooting himself when he was a child telling John Lennon, "I know what it's like to be dead." Now he truly does know. R.I.P.

No, Israel Did Not Impose a "Muslim Ban" on Omar & Tlaib

After Israel announced that it would not admit Democratic Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, Omar declared, “Trump’s Muslim ban is what Israel is implementing, this time against two duly elected members of Congress.”


Former Democratic VP nominee Tim Kaine echoed Omar's spin tweeting, "PM Netanyahu – Drop your Muslim ban. Congress votes over and over again to provide unprecedented security assistance to Israel. Banning any member disrespects us all."


Right or wrong, Omar and Tlaib were denied entry into Israel because of their views on BDS, not because of their faith. If Israel has a Muslim ban then how come Muslims comprise 18% of its population?


Given Omar's insidious anti-Semitism in which she has questioned the loyalty of American Jews it takes remarkable chutzpah to liken Israel's restriction upon her and Tlaib as a "Muslim ban." Democratic presidential candidates would be wise not to promote Omar's defamation of Israel, but I am not so optimistic.

Tlaib Was More Interested In Boycotting Israel Than Visiting Her Grandmother

After being banned from entry into Israel, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib wrote Israel's Interior Minister Aryeh Deri requesting that she be granted entry into the West Bank to visit her elderly grandmother as it "could be my last opportunity to see her". Tlaib added, "I will respect any restrictions and will not promote boycotts against Israel during my visit."


On the basis of Tlaib's letter, Deri granted her permission to enter. However, by this morning, Tlaib had changed her tune:

When I won, it gave the Palestinian people hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions. I can't allow the State of Israel to take away that light by humiliating me & use my love for my sity to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies.

Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in--fighting against racism, oppression & injustice.

In other words when Tlaib was lying when she told Deri she would "respect any restrictions and will not promote boycotts against Israel during my visit." Tlaib had no intention of visiting her grandmother and used her as a political prop. All Tlaib cares about is promoting BDS and its anti-Semitism. Even if one disagrees with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to bar Tlaib along with Ilhan Omar (as I do) let us not disregard the anti-Semitic nature of her agenda.

Celebrating #Woodstock50 With John Fogerty at Radio City Music Hall

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Woodstock and I commemorated it in the presence of John Fogerty at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. Fifty years ago tomorrow night, Creedence Clearwater Revival performed at the world's most famous concert. However, most people don't remember CCR being there as they neither appeared in the movie or on the soundtrack. John Fogerty has a reason why: The Grateful Dead.

Prior to playing the Woodstock inspired "Who'll Stop The Rain?", Fogerty recounted that CCR was scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. on the first night of the festival. The Dead, however, had other ideas. The Dead hit the stage at midnight and immediately dropped LSD. As a result, it took an hour for them to realize what their instruments were for and how to plug them in. Long story short CCR didn't hit the stage until 2:30 a.m. While CCR was playing for its largest audience most of it was naked and asleep save for one person way in the back for whom the Travelin' Band played its heart out.

While Woodstock might not have been CCR's crowning moment it was a positive experience for Fogerty. He called it an inclusive experience where people didn't kick others out because they looked different. It was a thinly veiled swipe at President Trump and drew warm applause from the New York City crowd. Fogerty did a montage of songs featured at Woodstock paying tribute to Joe Cocker with his rendition of The Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends" and Sly & The Family Stone's "Dance to the Music" and "Everyday People". Fogerty Is due to perform at Bethel Woods, the original site of Woodstock on Sunday. He was to have participated in the ill-fated Woodstock 50, but would pull out before organizer Michael Lang pulled the plug.

There would be no pulling the plug tonight. In fact. Fogerty possesses a remarkable energy for a man of 74. Although the show began 30 minutes late, he more than made up for it by playing for an hour and 45 minutes solid. The show was a family affair with son Shane on lead guitar while his other son Tyler who came out and sang "Good Golly Miss Molly" Both sons have inherited their Dad's gift for music. Even Fogerty's 9-year old granddaughter got in on the act as one of four dancers who entertained the audience before the show and during several of his numbers. It was also a pleasant surprise to see legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff as part of the band and I'm not just saying that because he follows me on Twitter (along with about 100,000 other people).

For years, Fogerty's relationship with his ex-CCR bandmates was such that he refused to play CCR material. Bob Dylan is said to have urged Fogerty to play CCR songs or people would forget them. However, the audience at Radio City was a healthy mix of baby boomers, Gen Xers & Millennials. Classic rock stations around the country have played CCR often enough that they are part of the American landscape be it "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Susie Q", "Up Around The Bend", "Down On The Corner", "Fortunate Son", "Bad Moon Rising" and "Proud Mary". And if you've attended a baseball game in the past 30 years or so then chances are you've heard "Centerfield" before the first pitch. Fifty years onward, John Fogerty & CCR are in no more danger of being forgotten anytime soon than Woodstock.

Will Joe Walsh Challenge Trump in a GOP Primary If No Other Conservative Republican Is Willing?

Former Illinois Republican Congressman and conservative talk radio host Joe Walsh has been one of President Trump's fiercest critics. Yesterday, Walsh penned an op-ed for The New York Times calling for Trump to have a GOP primary challenger from the right:

Yes, William Weld, the former Massachusetts governor, is challenging Mr. Trump from the center. But the president is more vulnerable to a challenge from the right. I’m on the right, and I’m hugely disappointed that challenge hasn’t yet materialized.

Mr. Trump’s most vulnerable against a challenger who’d make the case for strong borders — instead of warning of “invaders,” dragging us down, turning neighbor against neighbor. A majority of Americans want fixes to our most basic problems.

We need someone who could stand up, look the president in the eye and say: “Enough, sir. We’ve had enough of your indecency. We’ve had enough of your lies, your bullying, your cruelty, enough of your insults, your daily drama, your incitement, enough of the danger you place this country in every single day. We don’t want any of this anymore, and the country certainly can’t stand four more years of it.”

But what if no Republican is willing to step up and challenge Trump from the right?


I pose this question because the Republican Party at large seems quite happy with President Trump's indecency, lies, bullying, cruelty, insults, daily drama, incitement and danger. And those not happy with it have no qualms about turning a blind eye when faced with the consequences of speaking out. By Walsh's own admission, "They're scared to death ... Most of my former colleagues keep they're mouths shut because they don't what to piss off the president."


If no Republican from the right is willing to challenge then one must ask if Walsh would put his talk radio career on hold and step up to the plate?


In other words would Walsh walk the walk and not just talk the talk?


Because if not him then whom.

Hickenlooper Might Have Dropped Out Today, But His Presidential Bid Ended in March

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper formally ended his presidential bid today. It might be August, but his aspirations truly ended back in March during a CNN Townhall.


During that town hall, Hickenlooper spoke about taking his mother to see Deep Throat in the 1970's. Although Trump has done far worse things in the sexual arena, it was weird enough to give people the heebie jeebies. Of course, Hickenlooper also had two strikes against him by virtue of being a straight middle aged white male. He did not help his cause when he wondered aloud why prospective female Democratic presidential candidates weren't being asked if they would consider a man as their running mate.


Even if Hickenlooper hadn't said any of these things, his centrism is out of step in a party which is heading leftward at warp speed. Michael Bennet, Seth Moulton and Steve Bullock find themselves similarly adrift and it is only a matter of time before they follow Hickenlooper's lead. However, Hickenlooper could soon join his fellow Coloradan Bennet in the Senate as he is contemplating seeking his party's nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Cory Gardner.


Hickenlooper is the second Democrat to abandon his presidential bid. California Congressman Eric Swalwell ended his campaign last month and is concentrating on retaining his seat.

Bibi Should Let Omar & Tlaib Into Israel So Israelis Can Challenge Their Anti-Semitism

I think Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has erred in denying Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib into Israel.


Yes, Omar and Tlaib are supporters of BDS which is inherently anti-Semitic. But President Trump's view that granting them entry into Israel would "show great weakness" is simply wrong. On the contrary, it would have presented Israelis the opportunity to challenge their anti-Semitic views. It would have been compelling to see Israeli families who lost loved ones to Palestinian terrorism confront Omar and Tlaib.


Instead what we have is Bibi asking, "How high?" when Trump tells him to jump. The move also sets a dangerous precedent. If Israel sees fit to bar elected members of the United States Congress from entering the country then don't be surprised if Israeli MKs are denied entry into foreign countries.


As much as I abhor Omar and Tlaib's anti-Semitism and the denial of their anti-Semitism by much of the Democratic Party establishment, I think nothing good will come of Netanyahu's decision.

Canada's Ethics Commissioner Says Trudeau Broke The Law in SNC-Lavalin Affair

Today is not a good day for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It could very well prove the straw that broke the camel's back for his government.


Mario Dion, Canada's Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, issued a report stating Trudeau violated the Conflict of Interest Act by attempting to persuade then Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to overrule the director of public prosecution's decision not to seek a deferred prosecution agreement with the Montreal based construction firm SNC-Lavalin. When Wilson-Raybould refused to overrule the decision, Trudeau demoted her in a cabinet shuffle and she subsequently resigned from Cabinet. This past stpring Trudeau ultimately expelled Wilson-Raybould and another former cabinet minister Jane Philpott from the Liberal Party caucus.


Dion, while restrained in his language, was unambiguous in stating Trudeau was in the wrong:


It is not for Mr. Trudeau, or for me, or for any other administrative body to judge whether an Attorney General has properly or sufficiently considered the public interest in matters of criminal prosecution or, for that matter, any other aspect of their decision-making process. Absent an abuse of process, even courts are reluctant to adjudicate on issues involving the exercise of prosecutorial discretion. As the Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General testified, the Attorney General must shoulder the responsibility for such decisions and is ultimately accountable before Parliament.


After analyzing all the facts concerning Trudeau's attempt and those working on his behalf to improperly influence Wilson-Raybould and Trudeau's justification for his actions, Dion writes:


As Prime Minister, Mr. Trudeau was the only public office holder who, by virtue of his position, could clearly exert influence over Ms. Wilson‑Raybould. The authority of the Prime Minister and his office was used to circumvent, undermine and ultimately attempt to discredit the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions as well as the authority of Ms. Wilson‑Raybould as the Crown's chief law officer.


Mr. Trudeau argued that he could not be held vicariously liable for the actions of his senior advisors and other senior departmental officials. He pointed to this Office's decision in The Wright Report, where Commissioner Dawson found that Mr. Nigel Wright, then Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, had used his position to influence another person's decision so as to improperly further another person's private interests. However, nothing in that report suggests that the former Prime Minister was involved in or even aware of the scheme.


Here, in contrast, the evidence abundantly shows that Mr. Trudeau knowingly sought to influence Ms. Wilson-Raybould both directly and through the actions of his agents.


For his part, Trudeau issued a mealy mouthed statement. While Trudeau said, "I take responsibility for the mistakes I made", he also took issue with Dion's conclusions namely that it was not improper of him to discuss the case with Wilson-Raybould. Trudeau added that he wouldn't apologize standing up for Canadian jobs. What Trudeau doesn't apologize for is standing up for giving special treatment to a top Liberal Party donor in his home province.


With a federal election only two months away, Trudeau did have to give the appearance of contrition hoping it would be sufficient to neutralize the opposition. Recent polls have been mixed with some giving the Liberals the lead and some giving the Tories the lead all within the 4% margin of error whilst one poll had the two parties in a dead heat. As long as voters have SNC-Lavalin on their minds over the next two months, Trudeau can look forward to becoming Canada's first one term Prime Minister in over 80 years.

Cuccinelli Should Have His Poetic License Revoked

Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of Citizenship & Immigration Services, deployed poetic license yesterday in defense of the Trump Administration's proposed new regulations restricting the issuance of Green Cards on the basis of using government programs such as Medicaid and food stamps. During an interview with NPR, Cuccinelli revised Emma Lazarus' famous line from her poem "The New Colossus": " "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Cuccinelli's interpretation reads, "Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge."


Cuccinelli, the former Virginia Attorney General and unsuccessful GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2013, was appointed to his current position by President Trump in June. He wasn't content merely to rewrite Lazarus' poem. Cuccinelli changed its meaning altogether. When challenged on CNN by Erin Burnett as his interpretation of the poem, Cuccinelli replied, “Well, of course that poem was referring back to people coming from Europe where they had class-based societies.”


When Cuccinelli says Europe he means white, not brown skinned people from Africa, Latin America or the Middle East. Cuccinelli ought to have his poetic license revoked.


Let us remember this new rule is directed at people who came to the United States legally. They have broken no laws. So now the Trump Administration is trying to make the use of Medicaid and food stamps a criminal act.


At this hour #CuccinelliResign is trending on Twitter. This is highly unlikely. Cuccinelli isn't saying anything with which President Trump disagrees. In the unlikely event Cuccinelli were to resign then Trump would simply appoint someone else with the same point of view and not afraid to express it. So long as the Trump Administration is in office and isn't reigned in by the courts they will have effectively have extinguished the lamp beside the golden door.

It Does Not Suck To Be David Crosby

"Boy, it does not suck to be here."


These words were uttered by David Crosby early in his set yesterday on a comfortable Sunday evening at Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center Out of Doors in New York City. And who could blame him? As documented in the recently released David Crosby: Remember My Name, Crosby has diabetes, a transplanted liver and eight stents in his heart following several heart attacks. Crosby is grateful to be alive and wants to make the most of his time he has left so long as his body doesn't betray him. Back in June, Crosby fell ill during a performance in Beverly, Massachusetts and cancelled a performance scheduled for the following night in Bar Harbor, Maine. Under the circumstances, Crosby cannot take anything for granted.


Naturally, he would have liked to have spent that time collaborating with his old mates in in The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) but he is persona non grata. While ex-Byrds band mate Roger McGuinn disputed Crosby's assertion that he hated him McGuinn also flatly turned down Crosby's offer of a Byrds reunion. So Crosby must make his music with others. Fortunately for Crosby there are no shortage of people who want to make music with him. In this respect, it does not suck to be David Crosby.


The evening began with Anaïs Mitchell, the Tony Award winning composer Hadestown. Her credentials notwithstanding, Mitchell reminded me of a lot of the female folk singers who I used to see at the open mike night at Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts who try to sound like Joni Mitchell or Ani DiFranco with one song indistinguishable from the other. To her credit, Mitchell realized that much of the crowd was not there to see her and took it in good humor. Upon hearing a smattering of applause after playing "Young Man in America" she quipped, "Thanks to the both of you." The 38-year old Vermont native would earn her largest applause before playing "Why We Build The Wall" noting it had nothing to do with President Trump. "Not everything is about him."


This evening was about David Crosby and his friends. For all his myriad of health problems, Crosby, who turns 78 on Wednesday, still possesses a commanding voice which cannot be said of many of his contemporaries who have ostracized him. During most concerts, performers will give brief acknowledgment to their supporting players. Mitchell only identified her guitarist by his first name. Crosby, on the other hand, spoke at length about his collaborators. The only other time I've seen an artist speak volumes about his collaborators was Rod Argent of The Zombies.


Crosby spoke about David Gilmour of Pink Floyd told him he was going to steal away his drummer Steve DiStanislao and did. With regard to bass player Mai Leisz, Crosby described how Jackson Browne band members Bob Glaud and Greg Leisz discovered her playing on the streets of Amsterdam (it was actually Stockholm). Leisz subsequently fell in love with the Estonian born bassist nearly forty years his junior and married her earlier this year. Crosby described keyboardist James Raymond as his greatest collaborator. Raymond is also Crosby's son with whom he reunited in 1997 and formed CPR along with guitarist Jeff Pevar whose presence was strongly felt during the show. Crosby also referred to Raymond as an asshole. My Dad was a bit taken aback by this, but I reminded him that Crosby often describes himself as an asshole.


Crosby turned the spotlight to Canadian born keyboardist and vocalist Michelle Willis as they played her composition "Janet" who she assured us wasn't a person, but rather a concept. The concept gave Crosby and his friends a chance to shine individually particularly Pevar.


While Crosby did his best to look to the future making no reference to the forthcoming 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the significantly septuagenarian crowd understandably responded most strongly to classic CSN/CSNY material like "Long Time Gone", "Déja Vu", "Wooden Ships" and "Ohio" as well as The Byrds' "Eight Miles High" penned by Gene Clark. Half a century after they were recorded these songs still resonate and will resonate long after Crosby is gone. But as long as Crosby is still here it is well worth it to see and hear him.

There's Something In The Air With The Mets

When I left work and headed for the 7 train in Grand Central the platform was almost completely at capacity & nearly everyone was headed towards Queens to see the New York Mets host the Washington Nationals. Alas I was among the minority heading points west.

Now I don't take the train everyday, but I take it often enough that I've never seen a crowd like this for the Mets. But judging by what the Mets did tonight the 7 platform is going to be a very crowded place well into October.

Such a notion wouldn't have been entertained a month ago. At the All-Star Break, the Mets were 40-50 and stood 13.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East with 10 teams in the NL ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. Mets manager Mickey Callaway was on the verge of being shown the door. As of this writing, the Mets are 20-6 since the All-Star Game & have won 14 of their last 15 games. Most of these wins have come against teams like the Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins. What could they do against a team like the Nats who themselves turned around their season in June?

As it turned out plenty.

Newly acquired Marcus Stroman made his Citi Field debut and came out dealing. But so did Stephen Strasburg. The Nats struck first in the fourth. Anthony Rendon tripled in a run as Michael Conforto & Jeff McNeil collided in the outfield. Conforto's face was bruised but both remained the game. But 20-year old Juan Soto took Stroman deep to give the Nats a 3-0 lead. But the Mets tied the game in the bottom of that same inning on back to back HRs by Pete Alonso & J.D. Davis.

Stroman got into a jam in the sixth by allowing a lead off double to Soto followed by a Matt Adams single. Soto would be caught in a run down between third and home on a groundball hit by Kurt Suzuki. The rundown took so long that Suzuki reached second while Adams hugged third. With first base open, Stroman pitched to Brian Dozier who lined out to Mets shortstop Ahmed Rosario whose defense has improved significantly since the start of the season. After intentionally walking Victor Robles, Stroman struck out Strasburg to get out of the jam unscathed.

After 102 pitches, I thought Stroman was done. But in of those puzzling moves which made Mets fan want Callaway carted away, the Mets skipper sent Stroman back out for the 7th. Stroman walked Trea Turner. It was only then that Callaway lifted Stroman in favor of lefty Justin Wilson. While Wilson struck out Adam Eaton, he would surrender a two-run homer to Rendon to give the Nats a 5-3 lead. Although Wilson gave up the homer, it was Stroman who was on the hook by virtue of his walk to Turner. The Nats shortstop would score an insurance run in the 9th on a wild pitch by Luis Avilan.

The odds were very much against the Mets. They were 0-44 when trailing after the 8th inning this season. In fact, they hadn't had a 9th inning comeback since 2015 when they won the NL pennant. But I told Dad that Nats closer Seean Doolittle had been vulnerable to blowing saves this season. Even  with this prognosis I could not believe the events that would unfold, but I would have to believe.

Davis led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Mets catcher & former Nat Wilson Ramos singled up the middle. Then for the second time in the game the Mets came back from a three run deficit when Todd Frazier launched a long home run off Doolittle.

The game was tied and there was still no one out. Clearly Doolittle didn't have his stuff and Fernando Rodney was at the ready. But Nats skipper Dave Martinez stuck with Doolittle who then gave what proved to be Joe Panik's first hit as a Met. Panik's join was short lived as he was thrown out on a bunt attempt by pinch hitter Juan Lagares. NL bating leader Jeff McNeil filed out to right, but Rosario kept hopes alive with an opposite field single.

Conforto came up with runners on first and second and on Doolittle's fifth pitch drove the ball over right fielder Adam Eaton's head to give the Mets a 7-6 win after scoring four runs in the 9th. Not only was Conforto given a Gatorade bath, but he had a jersey torn apart by Alonso & stood before nearly 40,000 fans shirtless.

It was the Mets 7th straight win & 9 in their last 10 games. They are a half game back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the second NL Wild Card berth along with the Philadelphia Phillies & St. Louis Cardinals.

The Mets still have two more games with the Nats who currently have the first NL Wild Card berth before traveling to Atlanta to take on the first place Braves. Should the Mets lose 4 out of 5 then tonight will be quickly forgotten. But something seems genuinely in the air. It's the sort of excitement I don't see with the Yankees. The Yankees are expected to win even with all their injuries. This expectation does not exist with the Mets despite only being four years removed from winning the NL pennant. The Mets are not perennial winners just like the rest of us so their success is far more satisfying. As Roger Angell put it, "There is more Mets than Yankees in all of us." It was certainly in all those people I saw at Grand Central tonight waiting for the 7 train.

Mets Push Panik Button Amidst Their Best Baseball of 2019

The New York Mets have pushed the Panik button by acquiring the contract of second baseman Joe Panik who was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Panik fulfills the team's need for an everyday second baseman after Robinson Cano sustained a season ending hamstring injury last weekend in Pittsburgh.


Panik, a 28-year old native of Yonkers, New York, earned a World Series ring with the Giants in his rookie season in 2014, had been struggling at the plate this season hitting .235 with 3 HR and 27 RBI in 103 games. It also might be an indication that the Giants might be beginning to give up on post-season aspirations. While the Giants are only three games back of the second NL Wild Card berth, the team is 2-6 in August and has lost 7 of its last 10 games. The Mets, by contrast, have won six in a row and 19-6 since the All-Star Break. They are now tied in the NL East standings with the Philadelphia Phillies and only a half game back of the second NL Wild Card berth.


However, the Mets face a crucial this weekend as they host the Washington Nationals for a three game series before traveling to Atlanta on Monday to begin a three game series against the first place Braves. These next six games will determine if the Mets are a post-season contender or just a lucky pretender. The Mets are hoping the addition of Panik will prove the former instead of the latter.

If Biden is a Racist Then Why Did Obama Choose Him?

Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden made one of his famous gaffes last night while addressing the Iowa Asian and Latino coalition when he said, "Poor kids are just as bright and talented as white kids." Biden then quickly added, "Wealthy kids. Asian kids. Black kids. I really mean it. But think how we think about it."


The Trump 2020 campaign pounced on Biden's comments. Andrew Clark tweeted, "Joe Biden slip-up in Iowa tonight. "Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids." Yikes...have fun mitigating that one."


Well, for starters, I don't think the Trump campaign is in any position to lecture anyone on racism when their man's use of the words infestation and invasion got 23 people killed at a Walmart in El Paso. Not that it would stop the pot from calling the kettle black. This morning Trump questioned Biden's mental state claiming that he's "not playing with a full deck."  But the fact that the Trump is going after Biden in this manner indicates they believe Biden is the greatest threat to a second term in office for the President.


The bigger question though is how Biden's Democratic opponents will respond between now and the next debate in a month's time. As of this writing there has been no response from any of Biden's opponents. Of course, Kamala Harris made hay with Biden during the first debate with regard to working with segregationist Senators and school busing even though she thinks busing is a local matter. All of which would prompt Tulsi Gabbard to go on offense and stomp a mudhole into Harris in the July debate.


It isn't to say that Biden the best choice Democrats have, but his opponents will have to watch their step. For all of Harris, Cory Booker, Kristen Gillibrand and Bill de Blasio's efforts to go after Biden in the last debate they only managed to make themselves look smaller in the process. It remains to be seen what kind of interaction Biden would have with either Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders or Pete Buttigieg. While Warren and Sanders could damage Biden the two split the left wing vote. As such I think Buttigieg has the better chance of challenging Biden without diminishing himself. Buttigieg has managed to come across as assertive without being angry.


However, there is certainly anger in the so-called progressive media. Consider this paragraph from Stephen A. Crockett, Jr. of The Root:


Biden’s “gaffe,” as just about every mainstream media outlet put it, replaces poor children with minority children and that isn’t a mistake. For Biden, black and Latino kids are poor and white kids are wealthy. We don’t have to do a psychoanalysis of Biden’s brain in order to see that he’s got some deep-rooted, embedded, racist-y feelings around color.


Frankly, Crockett, Jr.'s assertion is a crock. This is after all a man who declared that FDR went on television in 1929 to speak about the stock market crash when, of course, FDR was neither President nor was there TV to be watched. But if Biden is as Crockett, Jr. puts it "racist-y" or harbors any kind of racist point of view then why on Earth did Barack Obama pick him as his running mate? Obama could have picked any Democrat in the country. But he chose Biden. If Democrats and the Left at large are going to go with a "Biden is a racist" narrative then they are implicitly criticizing Obama. In which case, the next time Biden is challenged on his racial views he should challenge them along these lines, "Do you honestly think Barack Obama would pick a racist to be his Vice-President? If you do then you don't know very much about President Obama." Biden could also point to the fact that more than half of African-American Democratic primary voters support him and ask his opponents if the African-American community would support a racist.


If Biden's Democratic rivals make a point of jumping on this comment then he will have no choice but to come out swinging as they would effectively be calling him a bigot and a racist. Accusations of racism against Biden from the Trump camp have no credibility. But Biden cannot tolerate that accusation coming from his fellow Democrats under any circumstances or his presidential bid is over. If Democrats choose to go down this road then Biden must take the gloves off and come out swinging.

Five Belated Observations About El Paso & Dayton

Aside from engagements on Twitter, this is the first time I will be writing at length about the mass shootings that took place last Saturday in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. I have the following five observations to offer:


1. White Supremacy is Resurgent


White supremacy, like all other evils, has and will always be amongst us. But it is now resurgent. El Paso is but the latest in a long line of mass shooting motivated by racism. The perpetrators in both  El Paso and the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in northern California late last month targeted Hispanics, Jews were the target at synagogues in Pittsburgh and Poway, California while African-Americans were targeted in a church in Charleston, South Carolina back in 2015. There's a very good chance this is only the beginning. Needless to say the national mood is tense.


2. President Trump Isn't Helping


President Trump not only isn't helping that tension he is aggravating and an argument could be made that he bears some responsibility for the resurgence in white supremacy. While the synagogue shooters in Pittsburgh and Poway believe Trump is part of a vast Jewish conspiracy, the El Paso shooter was clearly inspired by Trump's invasion rhetoric where it concerns the Southern Border. Yes, Trump condemned white supremacy, but he did so with the same conviction with which President Obama condemned radical Islam. It also doesn't help that Trump can't tell the difference between Dayton and Toledo. Yes, Joe Biden got the locations wrong too, but there's no guarantee Democrats are going to nominate him. For Republicans, Trump is their man and, like it or not, he is our President. We look to the President to inspire confidence in times of trouble. Trump not only isn't inspiring confidence he is making things worse with every tweet and utterance.


3. Beto O'Rourke Isn't Helping Either


I don't have a problem with O'Rourke calling Trump a racist and Trump is wrong to tell him to be quiet. El Paso is O'Rourke's back yard and has every right to speak out. But righteous indignation must be balanced with common sense. O'Rourke is warm to the notion of a mandatory buy back program. This amounts to nothing more than collective punishment upon law abiding citizens who wish ill will to no one. There are no easy answers when it comes to guns in America and as long as O'Rourke insists on offering them then he isn't helping in the long run either.


4. The Dayton Shooting Remains a Mystery


The shooting which claimed nine lives in Dayton, Ohio on Saturday night might have been quickly forgotten in our collective memory if not for the fact that it occurred only hours after El Paso. Some of the initial reports indicated the shooter had white supremacist views and had killed his sister for dating an African-American male. However, the shooter's political inclinations were a lot closer to Elizabeth Warren than Donald Trump something Trump is all too eager to point out.


But if this had anything to do with politics why did the shooter kill his own sister after being in her company a short time earlier? What specifically triggered (for lack of a better word) the shooter might never be known, but he had expressed the desire to kill and rape while in high school and showed a woman he dated earlier this year footage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Whatever his reasons were on Satruday, the shooter had obviously sick in the head for years.


5. We're Scared Shitless


The most crowded place in New York City is Times Square. I generally avoid the area, but of late I've been in the neighborhood because I have taken up bowling (another subject for another day) and was there last night. A couple of hours after I was in the area this happened:

It turned out to be a motorcycle, but when you operate on fear instead of fact and don't have time to process what is going on around you chaos ensues and we become scared shitless. Fortunately, no one died in the stampede. We might not be so lucky next time. At around the same time it was believed there was a shooting at a Walmart in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There wasn't but with what happened at the Walmart in El Paso still fresh in our minds it's not surprising. I suspect there will be more false alarms to come. I suppose false alarms are better than having fatalities, but they too take a toll on our national psyche with no relief in sight.


I wish I could offer a silver lining with the preceding observations but absent the desire to find common ground much less agree on basic facts to do so would be to engage in wishful thinking. Sigh.

Sanchez Leads on Combined No-Hitter in Astros Debut

When the Toronto Blue Jays traded pitcher Aaron Sanchez to the Houston Astros on Wednesday, I wrote the following:

Perhaps being surrounded by Greinke, Verlander, Cole and Miley will help Sanchez improve his ghastly 3-14 record and 6.07 ERA and regain the form which led the AL in ERA in 2016.

Well, Sanchez is well on his way to regaining that form. In his Astros debut, Sanchez threw six no-hit innings against the Seattle Mariners. Relievers Will Harris, former Blue Jay teammate Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski pitched an inning apiece to combine on a no-hitter en route to a 9-0 win.

This combined no-hitter comes exactly three weeks after Los Angeles Angels pitchers Taylor Cole and Felix Pena pulled it off also against the Seattle Mariners during a tribute to the late Tyler Skaggs. It is also the third no-hitter of the 2019 season. Mike Fiers fired the first no-hitter back in May for the Oakland A's against the Cincinnati Reds. Interestingly, until tonight, Fiers had been the last Astros pitcher to toss a no-hitter back in August 2015 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is also the second time the Astros pitchers have combined for a no-hitter. In June 2003, Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner no-hit the New York Yankees. 

My Dad wondered if Blue Jays fans were thinking, "Why couldn't have Sanchez done that for us?" However, I think Sanchez needed a change of scenery and it never hurts to be traded to a team like the Astros where one is already surrounded by elite pitchers. It also didn't hurt that Sanchez took out a full page ad in The Toronto Sun to thank Jays fans for their support. Sanchez endeared himself to Blue Jays fans on his way out and has now endeared himself to Astros fans on his way in.

MLB Notes for July: Giants Stand Tall For Bochy

Not much was expected from the San Francisco Giants in 2019. Now five years removed from their last World Series title, the most Giants fans were hoping for was that the team not embarrass longtime manager Bruce Bochy in his final season at its helm. The future Hall of Fame manager has guided the Giants to three World Series titles this decade. At the end of July, there is now a chance for a fourth title.


The Giants began July 36-47 and in last place in the NL West 19½ games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers. But after going 19-6 in July, the Giants have leapfrogged over the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks into second place. While the Giants are still 15 games back of the dominant Dodgers they are now within 2 games of the second NL Wild Card berth.


No one would like a NLDS matchup with the Dodgers more than Giants ace Madison Bumgarner. He hasn't forgotten how Max Muncy told him to go fish the ball out of McCovey Cove after homering off him on June 11th. At that point, the Giants were widely expected to deal Bumgarner at the trade deadline. Now Bumgarner is staying in San Francisco. Although the team congealed in July they started to tread water right after Muncy took Bumgarner deep in the drink in mid-June. The Giants haven't forgotten.


While the Giants had a triumphant July, the same cannot be said of either the San Diego Padres or Colorado Rockies who went 8-16 and 6-19 last month, respectively. The Padres became sellers at the trade deadline dealing power hitting outfielder Franmil Reyes to the Cleveland Indians. After a strong April and hovering around .500 most of the season, it looks like the Friars will have their ninth consecutive losing season even with Manny Machado in the center of their lineup. The Rockies now must be considered the most disappointing team in the NL. They finished July losing 7 of 10 and are now 20½ games back of the Dodgers. No one expected the Rockies who earned NL Wild Card berths in both 2017 and 2018 to regress this severely. The Arizona Diamondbacks still have a shot at the post-season only three games back of the second NL Wild Card berth. However, the dealing of ace Zack Greinke to the Houston Astros certainly gives D'Backs fans snake eyes.


At the All-Star Break, the NL Central was the tightest division in MLB with only 4½ games separating first and last place. When the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds aren't brawling they've been doing a lot of losing. The Bucs have fallen on particularly hard times losing 9 of their last 10 games and are 3-16 since the All-Star Break. It would appear this would be too high obstacle for Pirates manager Clint Hurdle to jump. All of which renders the NL Central a three team race with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals tied for first and the Milwaukee Brewers one game back. Whichever of these two teams doesn't win the NL Central will be vying for a NL Wild Card berth. The Cardinals have momentum on their side going 13-7 since the All-Star Break and playing their best baseball since April.


The Atlanta Braves are holding steady in the NL East with a 6½ and 7 game lead over the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nats currently hold a NL Wild Card berth with the Phillies only a half game behind. But look out. Here come the New York Mets who have gone 12-3 since the All-Star Break including six straight wins. All of a sudden the Mets are only 4½ games back of the second NL Wild Card berth. At the All-Star Break, the Mets were 7 games back of a NL Wild Card berth. Perhaps Marcus Stroman shouldn't be so upset after all. It could have been worse. He could have ended up with the Miami Marlins who own the worst record in the NL.


The Houston Astros hold an 8 game lead over the Oakland A's in the AL West. That lead must feel twice that size with the acquisition of Zack Greinke from the D'Backs. But the A's are only a half game off the pace for the second AL Wild Card berth. The Los Angeles Angels are fighting valiantly since the sudden passing of Tyler Skaggs at the beginning of July. They are six games back in the AL Wild Card race and any lineup with Mike Trout in it cannot be entirely discounted. The Texas Rangers, however, have taken a significant step back. The Rangers went 18-11 in June and found themselves with the second AL Wild Card berth. However, an 8-16 July has left the Rangers 7 games off the AL Wild Card pace. While the Rangers might have been satisfied with a .500 record at the beginning of the season having a whiff of post-season potential only to have it fall way will be a hard pill to swallow. The Seattle Mariners have won 7 of their last 10 games and are playing their best baseball since their 13-2 start. But these victories are pyrrhic as they sit 23 games back of the Astros and have traded away many of their assets.


The Minnesota Twins still lead the AL Central but their lead is getting smaller and smaller by the day. They began July 8 games ahead of the Tribe. At the All-Star Break the lead had slipped to 5½ games. As of this writing, the Twins lead over the Tribe is now at 3 games. The question is whether adding Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes was worth dispensing with the services of Trevor Bauer. The Chicago White Sox are in third place but have missed Tim Anderson horribly. The Chisox have lost 8 of their last 10 games and are 4-15 since the All-Star Break. The Kansas City Royals are 27½ games back of the Twins, but they have managed to get out of the last place. The Detroit Tigers who went an abysmal 5-20 in July now own MLB's worst record.


Not much has changed in the AL East with the New York Yankees holding a 7½ game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays who have been treading water, but are playing well enough to regain ownership of the second AL Wild Card berth. The Boston Red Sox are 2½ games back of the Rays in the AL Wild Card standings, but Red Sox Nation is impatient the team did not acquire bullpen help before the trade deadline. The Toronto Blue Jays continue to lose games, but now have Bo Bichette in the fold. The Baltimore Orioles actually played .500 ball in July and no longer have the distinction of MLB's worst record - for now.


Where will we be at the end of August? Can the Red Sox overcome the Rays in the AL Wild Card standings? Will the Tribe catch the Twins in the AL Central? Can the Angels get into the AL Wild Card race? Will the Mets sustain their momentum? Does anyone want to win the NL Central? Will the Giants help Bruce Bochy go out in a blaze of glory? Check back me with on Labor Day Weekend.